YACT: Winter Driving Tips

[LordThing]

I figure since the bad weather has hit, maybe some people are not used to driving in it or maybe we can share experiences/tips to help.

Here are my few to help kick it off:

1) 4 wheel drive: 4 wheel drive does not also mean 4 wheel stop. Please remember that these large SUVs are heavy and carry alot of momentum. One patch of ice and you are out of control.

2) Take your time: Again, just because the road seems only wet, doesn't mean it's not dangerous. Please don't pass or quickly change lanes in these situations.

3) Don't be a hazard: Taking your time doesn't mean doing 4mph the whole way. Doing so causes slowdowns and problems for people behind you. Riding your brake down the hill may only cause you to slide more than if you let momentum take you down.

4) Steady pace: Going up or down hills, make sure you keep a steady speed or pace. Not too much gas so that you never have that issue of getting stuck half way up.

5)Tires: You hear clothes make the man? Well, tires make the car. Don't spend 20k on a car and skimp on tires. If you live in a state that gets more than an inch of accumulation, buy dedicated snow tires. I bought a set of 4 from Samsclub for under $200 mounted and balanced. These should last me a good 4 seasons. If you don't want to buy them locally, try TireRack or Discount Tire Direct. Great prices and you can research the tires prior.

6)Gears: Know your gears. Even automatics have more than one you can use. If you drop your car into low or 1st gear while going down a hill, your engine will help slow you without having to use your brake. This definately helps in icy situations where using brakes will only cause you to slide. 1st gear also helps keep your tires from spinning out by slowing your acceleration when you tap on the gas giving you greater control going up hills or through unplowed streets.

Lastly...

7)If you are too scared to drive, stay home. Being nervous behind the wheel only compounds the issue. Have someone take you to work/school or take public transit. Don't risk your life and my life trying to get there.

Any other suggestions or tips?

 

[ScoobMaster]

3) Don't be a hazard: Taking your time doesn't mean doing 4mph the whole way. Doing so causes slowdowns and problems for people behind you. Riding your brake down the hill may only cause you to slide more than if you let momentum take you down.

7)If you are too scared to drive, stay home. Being nervous behind the wheel only compounds the issue. Have someone take you to work/school or take public transit. Don't risk your life and my life trying to get there.

Those two describe *MANY* of the drivers I encountered this morning!!!!!! GRRRRR!

Sorry - end of rant!

 

[guyver01]

Don't be a hazard: Taking your time doesn't mean doing 4mph the whole way. Doing so causes slowdowns and problems for people behind you. Riding your brake down the hill may only cause you to slide more than if you let momentum take you down.

AMEN!! omg last night there must have been a half dozen people on the road last night using 'momentum only' to move their car.... 1 mph on an exit ramp full of snow = STUCK car.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Bad weather has just "hit now"? Bloody Yanks. In Soviet Canada, winter drives you.

- M4H

 

[JBT]

Bad weather has just hit we've had snow since november in Vermont. Those tips looks pretty good though. Esspecially the "don't be a hazard about half of the accidents I see are caused by theses people going 20 mph while every one else wants to go 35 mph. The other 50 % are stupid flat landers that think there SUV is good in snow when infact it is not esspecially when they aren't even in 4 wheel drive on the high way!!!

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

556) If you are female, don' bother driving at all

 

[SP33Demon]

If you own a truck with rear wheel drive, get sand bags for the bed to get better traction.

Be aware that if your car does have rear wheel drive, you could fishtail. Practice fishtailing in a parking lot to know how to react with the wheel if it happens.

Keep a shovel, deicer, and kitty litter in the car. You never know when they will come in handy in winter weather.

 

[Asharus]

My tip:

Don't be in the passing lane if you're going just as fast as the other lanes. Let me pass!

 

[LordThing]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Bad weather has just "hit now"? Bloody Yanks. In Soviet Canada, winter drives you.

- M4H

Well, for alot of the country it seems they are acting like we have never seen snow before. For us poor b@stards in Pittsburgh, we have been dealing with conditions like this since early Nov.

Since I keep seeing people having issues, thought I would try to share. Plus, maybe some of you can teach me a few tidbits I don't know

/hungry for knowledge

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: Asharus
My tip:

Don't be in the passing lane if you're going just as fast as the other lanes. Let me pass!

tru dat...otta the way biaatchhh

 

[rh71]

Will the SUV bashing ever stop ? I seem to recall a certain WReX around here sustaining some damage due to self-admitted overconfidence also. And don't forget other AWDs including some minivans. My SUV gets me around just fine, when my Accord was stuck in the driveway... I had no problems reversing my truck out of the garage and around it this morning. Ground clearance rules. My neighbor was watching me from his front porch... I couldn't let him down.

Anyway, I think there's some great tips in there. I don't necessarily agree with the 1st gear preventing slipping though. Everyone starts in 1st and they slip... I've had to use "winter mode" in my truck which starts it up in 3rd... more for throttle control.

Buffalo was good for something after all...

 

[v3rrv3]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Bad weather has just "hit now"? Bloody Yanks. In Soviet Canada, winter drives you.

- M4H

haha, Good Old Soviet Canada

 

[LordThing]

Originally posted by: rh71
Will the SUV bashing ever stop ? I seem to recall a certain WReX around here sustaining some damage due to self-admitted overconfidence also. And don't forget other AWDs including some minivans. My SUV gets me around just fine, when my Accord was stuck in the driveway... I had no problems reversing my truck out of the garage and around it this morning. Ground clearance rules. My neighbor was watching me from his front porch... I couldn't let him down.

Anyway, I think there's some great tips in there. I don't necessarily agree with the 1st gear preventing slipping though. Everyone starts in 1st and they slip... I've had to use "winter mode" in my truck which starts it up in 3rd... more for throttle control.

Buffalo was good for something after all...

Not SUV bashing. As I am sure you know, 90% of driving is the driver and not the vehicle. I think people need to realize that buying that large excursion/escalade/whatever has no bearing on how well you drive if you don't know how to opperate it to begin with.

I am really tired of seeing these tiny women in huge vehicles either driving WAY too fast or barely moving at all. Learn how to drive, then get the better vehicle.

 

[ScoobMaster]

Another tip:

If you don't have ABS the worst thing you can do if you start to lose control is JAM ON THE BRAKES and lock your wheels!

Your car CANNOT and WILL NOT turn on slippery surfaces with the front wheels locked. Don't believe me? Go into an empty snow-covered parking lot, get up some speed, slam your foot on the brake pedal, and then turn the steering wheel while you are sliding forward. Car change direction at all? (I didn't think so). While sliding forward with the brakes locked and the steering wheel turned take your foot off of the brake pedal - now you'll turn (If your not going WAYYY too fast! )

The best advice I can give (and have been given) is DON'T PANIC! Be smooth (pretend there is an egg between your foot and the pedals) and don't make any sudden or jerky movements with the wheel.

 

[rh71]

I didn't mean you, LordThing. I agree with your "4-wheel stop" comment and it aggravates me that those people give us a bad rep. Just don't forget SUVs aren't the only vehicles with 4WD/AWD.

Anyway, my advice ... I think everyone needs a few sessions in an empty parking lot.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Another tip. If you were going too fast around a corner (left turn in this case) and already have the wheel cranked all the way to the left and your foot on the brakes---RELEASE the brakes. Most of the time it will cause your vehicle to immediately turn.

 

[ScoobMaster]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
Another tip. If you were going too fast around a corner (left turn in this case) and already have the wheel cranked all the way to the left and your foot on the brakes---RELEASE the brakes. Most of the time it will cause your vehicle to immediately turn.

Isn't that what I said above? (In a lot more words!)

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: ScoobMaster

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
Another tip. If you were going too fast around a corner (left turn in this case) and already have the wheel cranked all the way to the left and your foot on the brakes---RELEASE the brakes. Most of the time it will cause your vehicle to immediately turn.

Isn't that what I said above? (In a lot more words!)

maybe

 

[Confused]

All I agree with apart from

1st gear also helps keep your tires from spinning out by slowing your acceleration when you tap on the gas giving you greater control going up hills or through unplowed streets.

Change 1st to 2nd or 3rd and you are right. My car has a "Hold" button, which holds it in 2nd gear when going slowly. Was very useful today driving up my road to get to work. 1st gear was slipping, I put on "Hold" (or could have just put it into "2") and light pedal movements got me up the hill


Confused

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: ScoobMaster

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
Another tip. If you were going too fast around a corner (left turn in this case) and already have the wheel cranked all the way to the left and your foot on the brakes---RELEASE the brakes. Most of the time it will cause your vehicle to immediately turn.

Isn't that what I said above? (In a lot more words!)

Death's was informing, scoobs was assholish

Bill

 

[thomsbrain]

yeah, my guess is he meant to say "stay out of first." also, unless you have full time 4 wheel drive, you're probably better off with the brakes than engine braking because yes, you really do have 4 wheel brakes, but most people only have 2 wheel drive. but you do have to resist the temptation to hit them too hard or you'll get up close and personal with the ditch.

 

[ScoobMaster]

Originally posted by: aRCeNiTe


Death's was informing, scoobs was assholish

Bill

OUCH! Harsh!

'sokay - I can take criticism (but next time tell me how your REALLY feel!)

 

[Helixate1]

If you are driving an automatic and you start to slide, put it in neutral and you will stop faster. When you are in "D" and you let off the brake a little, the wheels will spin.

 

[iliopsoas]

Originally posted by: LordThing

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Bad weather has just "hit now"? Bloody Yanks. In Soviet Canada, winter drives you.

- M4H

Well, for alot of the country it seems they are acting like we have never seen snow before. For us poor b@stards in Pittsburgh, we have been dealing with conditions like this since early Nov.

Since I keep seeing people having issues, thought I would try to share. Plus, maybe some of you can teach me a few tidbits I don't know

Thanks for the tips. I'll be moving to Pittsburgh from warm California in a few months and I'm not looking forward to this crappy weather at all.

Btw, I'm looking for a used subaru if you know where i can get one for a decent price

 

[notfred]

here's my list:

1) Move to California
2) Forget all about LordThing's list.

Ice and snow... heh.